Medical implant

Abstract

An implant can be used for the treatment of fat pad atrophy. The implant can be installed in the ball of the foot, the heel of the foot, the hands, or other areas. The implant can supplement or replace a patient's fat pads. In some instances, the implant can include an implant pad having a non-permeable external lining and an internal cavity enclosed by the external lining. The internal cavity can include a filler material. The implant can include features that resist rupture and/or migration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A foot implant for treating fat pad atrophy, the foot implant comprising:
 an implant pad comprising:
 a non-permeable external lining formed of a plurality of materials, each material of the plurality of materials having a different resonant frequency, wherein an external surface of the external lining is non-planar, and 
 an internal cavity enclosed by the external lining and comprising a flexible matrix, wherein walls of the flexible matrix include multiple semi-permeable layers, at least one layer of the multiple semi-permeable layers comprising a different material than another layer of the multiple semi-permeable layers, wherein pores in a first layer of the multiple semi-permeable layers are offset with respect to pores in an adjacent layer of the multiple semi-permeable layers, the internal cavity further comprising a liquid having a higher viscosity than water; and 
 
 a mounting area configured for mounting the implant pad to at least one metatarsal. 
 
     
     
       2. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the foot implant comprises a plurality of said implant pads conjoined to one another, each conjoined implant pad separated from each adjacent conjoined implant pad by a semi-permeable interface. 
     
     
       3. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting area comprises one or more loops extending from the external lining of the implant pad. 
     
     
       4. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting area comprises a mounting bracket attached on a side of the external lining that is proximal to a metatarsal. 
     
     
       5. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting area comprises one or more screw holes. 
     
     
       6. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting area includes a first band extending from a first side of the external lining of the implant pad and a second band extending from a second side of the external lining of the implant pad, the second side opposite the first side. 
     
     
       7. The foot implant of  claim 6 , wherein the first band is configured to be attached to a first metatarsal, and wherein the second band is configured to be attached to a second metatarsal. 
     
     
       8. The foot implant of  claim 6 , wherein the first band and the second band comprise pliable arms configured to substantially anchor the foot implant by weaving with anatomical structures of a foot. 
     
     
       9. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting area comprises a first appendage on a first side of the implant pad and a second appendage on a second side of the implant pad, the second side opposite the first side, and wherein the first and second appendages are configured in size and shape to substantially anchor the foot implant in place by engaging with anatomical structures of a foot. 
     
     
       10. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the external surface of the implant pad includes a texture that includes a multi-directional pattern of interconnected multi-directional ridges separated by multi-directional valleys. 
     
     
       11. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the external surface of the implant pad includes depressions. 
     
     
       12. The foot implant of  claim 11 , wherein the depressions are configured to receive cellular growth to anchor the foot implant in place. 
     
     
       13. The foot implant of  claim 1 , wherein the external surface of the implant pad includes a plurality of non-geometric protrusions configured in size and shape to mimic a shape of fat globules.